Union man admits making false bomb threat

WOODSTOCK – A Union man who called in a fake bomb threat from the parking lot of Huntley High School pleaded guilty Monday to harassment by telephone.

Derek Habbley, 26, was sentenced to 20 days in McHenry County Jail, which is considered satisfied with the credit for time served he received after his Nov. 2012 arrest.

Habbley, a former U.S. Marine, initially was indicted on a felony for making the false bomb threat, but the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor in a plea deal accepted by McHenry County Judge Gordon Graham.

Habbley is said to have called a Verizon corporate security official in November 2012, claiming to have a bomb or explosives in his vehicle or backpack. He said that he hypothetically could and that he could drive to the basement of the Verizon call center.

They Kane County Sheriff's bomb unit was called to the high school to inspect the vehicle and backpack. Authorities found nothing to indicate the presence of explosive materials.